Is Your Social Media Policy Intrusive?
It’s important to provide guidelines around performance and behaviors in the workplace. Workplace policies provide clarity which allows both managers and team members to know what is expected of them. When does a policy become too restrictive or intrusive?
Companies go from a range of no policy to requiring employees social media account passwords. Either direction isn’t appropriate for your overall relationship with the employees.
With social media use growing more each day, companies know that employees are using this technology during work hours. As a manager, you are responsible for performance as well as protecting the company’s brand with your employees. So how do you manage the growing trend of social media in the workplace?
“Companies Should Think Twice Before Creating Social Media Policy” by Jon Weiner on WorkPlaceOptions.com. The author addresses companies that are requiring employees to provide their social media account access information.
Anytime you create a policy think about both positive and negative reactions to it. Some policies are mandatory such as sexual harrassment and discrimination in the workplace. Most policies are elective which means the culture will dictate the length and breath of the guidelines.
It’s important to recognize that employees will engage in social media…not all, but enough that you need to address it and indicate what is acceptable and not acceptable. The company is also involved in social media to promote the business.
Try to base your policy on common sense and not include endless restrictions.
Common sense policies employees understand.
Employees know they are at work to perform a service to the company and not do social media. The new generation of employees have always accessed social media in one form or another so for them it’s natural to communicate via this venue. Find a common ground for everyone in your company.
Do you have a social media policy?
If so, what is it and if not, do you plan on creating one?
Be well,
Pat
Another Article:
Social Media and the Workplace
